Fire protection systems and sprinkler head



July 8, 1969 R. 'r. GROOS FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND SPRINKLER HEADOriginal Filed July 19, 1965 INVENTOR. flax/4,90 f 6200! BY ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,454,097 FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND SPRINKLERHEAD Richard T. Groos, Hastings, Mich., assignor to The VikingCorporation, Hastings, Mich., a corporation of Michgau Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 472,778, July 19, 1965. This application Aug. 8,1967, Ser. No. 659,057 Int. Cl. A62c 37/12, 37/30 US. Cl. 169-38 8Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application is a continuation ofmy previous application Ser. No. 472,778, filed July 19, 1965, now

abandoned.

This invention relates to fire protection systems of the general typewhich has a plurality of heat-responsive sprinkler heads spaced beneaththe ceiling of a room or building for automatically actuating whenexposed to the heat from an accidental fire to release water forfighting and extinguishing the fire; more particularly, the inventionrelates to a new and unique sprinkler head apparatus for use in suchsystems which is directionally responsive to the heat from such a fire.

As is well known at the present time, a plurality of heat-responsivesprinkler heads may be coupled to an overhead piping system containingwater or the like under pressure to provide an automaticfire-extinguishing system. The sprinkler heads are usually actuated by aheat-absorption type triggering means, which is activated upon absorbinga predetermined amount of heat. Most typically, the sprinkler headsutilize a fusible link as the tripping or triggering mechanism, whichmelts and separates under prescribed heat conditions to release thesupply of water and discharge the same upon the general area of the firetherebelow.

The principal advantage of such systems is of course they are automaticand hence provide an economical but foolproof guard against what wouldotherwise be heavy losses due to accidental fires. Such systems have theinherent capacity, however, to operate only in the actual area wherethere is a fire, so that the drenching downpour of water from thesprinkler heads is confined to that area of the building actually havingthe fire. Itis generally conceded, however, that in actual operationsuch systems do not perform at the level of their true capabilities,since in practically every instance of operation many sprinkler headslocated at considerable distances from the actual area of the fire areobserved to actuate. This releases quantities of water which are neitherneeded nor desired, causing substantial damage due to flooding and alsolowering the available water pressure in the areas where water is neededby overtaxing the water supply.

The present inventor has observed that the basic reason underlying thisundesired operating characteristic of automatic fire protection systemsis to be found in the behavior 3,454,097 Patented July 8, 1969 exhibitedby the hot gases produced by the fire. Such gases rise vertically withconsiderable speed and little deviation until they reach the vicinity ofthe ceiling. At this point, the gases begin to billow horizontally inspreading waves, traveling at a speed which is less than that of theirvertical rise, but which is still quite considerable. The upward rush ofhot gases very soon actuates the sprinkler heads directly over the fire.However, within a relatively short time the gases have movedhorizontally past a number of sprinkler heads which actually are remotefrom the fire itself but which are actuated nonetheless, therebyproducing unnecessary waste and damage.

Accordingly, the present invention provides as a major object asprinkler head apparatus having directional heat absorption qualities,which actuates quickly in response to gases flowing in a verticaldirection but is by comparison very slow to actuate in response to gasesflowing in a horizontal direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sprinkler headapparatus having means for directing horizontally-spreading heat flowaway from its triggering mechanism while allowing free access thereto ofthe vertically-rising heat fiow from the area of the fire, such that thesprinkler head is directionally responsive to the flow of heat.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sprinklerhead apparatus of the character described which includes a generallytubulous shield mechanism which telescopes over the triggering mechanismto achieve the purposes noted.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide asprinkler head apparatus having the foregoing attributes, whose tubulousshielding means is in the form of a truncated cone which acts to providea chimney elfect upon the vertically-rising gases from the fire tohasten and facilitate the response of the sprinkler head to such gaseswhile simultaneously sheltering the triggering mechanism fromhorizontally-traveling gases, to enhance the directional heat absorptionqualities of the sprinkler head.

The foregoing objects and advantages of this invention, together withother equally desirable features and attributes thereof, will becomeincreasingly apparent to those skilled in the pertinent arts uponconsideration of the following specification and its appended claims,particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingillustrative drawings setting forth a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the complete sprinkler head apparatus ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a frontal perspective view of the novel heat flow-directingshielding means involved in the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, pictorial or diagrammatic view on a reducedscale, illustrating a portion of a system using the novel sprinkler headapparatus of the invention.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a sprinkler headapparatus which is directionally responsive to the flow of hot gasesfrom a fire by virtue of a triggering mechanism which operates to absorbheat from vertically rising gases much faster than from horizontallyspreading gases. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention,disclosed herein, these results are achieved by providing a generallytubulous shield structure which telescopes over the fusible link orother heat absorption trig gering means in the sprinkler head to shieldthe same from gases traveling in a horizontal direction by deflectingsuch gases aside. The open ends of the tubulous shield in no wayinterfere with vertically-rising gases, which remain free to contact thetriggering means and actuate the sprinkler head. Indeed, the shieldingmeans actually enhances the upward movement of such gases by providing achimney effect which speeds the upward travel of these gases to thetriggering means by drawing them upwardly.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 a typicalsprinkler head apparatus is shown at 10, with the novel shieldingapparatus 12 installed thereupon in an operative position. The sprinklerhead apparatus conventionally consists of the following elements. Anozzle portion or spray means 14 is provided with a threaded couplingextremity 16, by which the sprinkler head is connected with a source offire-extinguishing liquid such as Water, through a typical overheadarrangement 17 (FIG. 4) of supply pipes or conduits. As will beunderstood, the nozzle portion 14 has a suitable passagewaytherethrough, through which the fire-extinguishing liquid is dischargedupon actuation of the sprinkler head. So long as the sprinkler head isnot actuated, a suitable cap or other restraining means 18 (FIGS. 1 and2) is positioned across the nozzle discharge to prevent any flowtherethrough. A pair of arcuate support arms 20 and 22 integral with orattached to the nozzle portion 14 extend upwardly therefrom, andinterconnect centrally of the sprinkler head apparatus to provide asupport hub 24. A generally circular diffuser plate 26 is secured to hub24 in the manner shown, to facilitate the spraying of thefire-extinguishing liquid.

In the unactuated position of the sprinkler head apparatus illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2, the restraining cap 18 is secured in position acrossthe discharge orifice of the nozzle portion 14 by a pair ofhammer-shaped linkages 28 and 30. These members interact by a pivotingcontact with each other, such as a U-shaped groove in linkage 28 and apointed extremity on linkage 30 which fits into the groove of linkage28. In this relative position the two ends of the linkages 28 and 30opposite the groove and pointed extremity are wedged firmly between thesupport hub 24 and the nozzle cap 18 to securely hold the latter inplace upon the nozzle 14.

It will be noted (FIG. 1) that when the linkages 28 and 30 are wedged inplace in this manner, their mutual pivotal contact lies to one side of atrue center-line between the cap 18 and hub 24. Consequently, the forceof the fireextinguishing fluid against cap 18 tends to dislodge thelinkages 28 and 30 by pushing them to one side and spreading theiroutwardly-extending end portions 32 and 34. This is normally prevented,however, by the fusible link 36, which receives the ends 32 and 34 oflinks 28 and 30, respectively, through appropriate apertures or the likeformed in the fusible link. As will readily be understood, the fusiblelink 36 is a heat-absorbing member which separates when exposed to apredetermined degree of heating. Thus, when a fire occurs in thevicinity of the sprinkler head apparatus 10, fusible link 36 separatesupon sensing a predetermined level of heat to release linkages 28 and30. Immediately the force of the fire-extinguishing liquid pushes theselinkages outward and aside, and dislodged cap 18. The fire-extinguishingliquid is then discharged through the nozzle against diffuser plate 26,which sprays the liquid over a predetermined .area to extinguish thefire.

The novel shielding means 12 of the present invention is separatelyillustrated in FIG. 3, where it will be seen that this member is ahollow, generally tubulous structure having an elongated aperture 40formed in its lateral periphery. As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, theshielding means 12 mounts over the fusible link 36' and the endextremities 32 and 34 of the linkages 28 and 30, respectively, which areengaged with the fusible link, such that the latter is more or lesscompletely encompassed within the shielding means. Specifically, thefusible link and the linkage extremities 32 and 34 pass through theelongated aperture 40 in the side of the shielding means, and the shieldis then rested in place by the engagement of the upper edge of aperture40 upon linkage 28. By means of this construction, the novel shieldingmeans may be utilized with existing conventional sprinkler heads such asare exemplified by sprinkler 10, without the requirement of anymodification whatsoever to the conventional sprinkler heads. It is to berecognized, however, that this is merely a most preferred embodiment forthe novel shielding means, and that in the broader aspects of theinvention the shield might be formed with a somewhat differentconfiguration and attached to a sprinkler head of a different design inother ways which might be deemed more suitable to the differentsprinkler head designs.

The seeming simplicity of the construction of the novel shielding means12 belies the unique purpose achieved by this member, and indeed itsvery simplicity augments its desirability, as is manifestly apparent bythe exceedingly simple installation steps necessary to convert ordinarysprinkler heads into the directionally-sensitive heads made available bythe invention. In the first place, currents of heat (indicated at A inFIG. 4) which have already risen to the ceiling 42 from a fire that ismerely in the general vicinity of a sprinkler head but not directlyunderneath it and which are billowing out horizontally beneath theceiling are deflected aside by the shielding means of head 110 and donot come into contact with the fusible link 36 sheltered therewithin.Consequently, the sprinkler head 110 will not be actuated under theinfluence of such heat, and will not produce unnecessary damage togoods, materials, and the like beneath that particular sprinkler.

On the other hand, the heat or hot gases which rise vertically(indicated at B in FIG. 4) from a fire which is beneath a head such ashead 210 are not at all impeded by the shielding means, and are free tocontact and actuate the fusible link to trigger the sprinkler. As amatter of fact, when the preferred tapered or conically shaped shieldingmeans illustrated is utilized, an even greater advantage is realized. Inthis form, the shielding means creates an added chimney effect upon thevertically-rising gases to accelerate their vertical movement throughthe shield and against the fusible link, thereby actuating the sprinklerhead in even less time than similar but unshielded links ordinarilyrequire.

Even further, the novel shielding means of the invention retardsactuation of the sprinkler head by horizontallymoving gases to an extentgreater than that which is accountable merely to the deflection of suchgases away from the fusible link. This is due to the fact that moisturefrom such gases will be condensed on the outside of the shielding means,and not on the fusible link. It is a generally accepted fact in theassociated art that sprinkler heads operate on the heart-absorptionprinciple are observed to perform faster when the ambient atmosphere hasan appreciable moisture content than is true when the atmosphere is dry.The reason for this is believed to be that the condensation of moistureupon the fusible link accelerates its heat-absorption qualities. Sinceas has been stated, the moisture condensed from horizontallymoving gasesaccumulates on the shield 12 rather than on the link 36 itself, it willbe readily appreciated that a further reduction in the likelihood ofactuation of the sprinkler head due to horizontally-moving gases isaccomplished by the present novel shielding means.

Having now fully set forth the structure of the present shielding meansan of a typical sprinkler head for use in conjunction therewith, andhaving also elaborated upon the operation of the shielding means incombination with the sprinkler head, other specific embodiments of theconcept underlying the invention will doubtless occur to those skilledin the art to which it pertains. Also, various modifications andvariations in the specific structure shown and disclosed herein mayoccur to such persons.

I claim:

1. In a first protection system for buildings and the like, of the typewhich selectively automatically actuates when subjected to the heat froma fire within such building to release a desired medium to extinguishsuch fire, and which includes a source of fire-extinguishing medium anda conduit system coupled to said source for providing distribution ofsaid medium to desired locations in such buildings, the improvementcomprising: a plurality of directionally-sensitive sprinkler head meanscoupled to said conduit system at said desired locations; each of saidsprinkler head means including heat-responsive triggering means foractuating that sprinkler head means to spray said medium therefrom;means mounting each of said sprinkler heads such that the triggeringmeans thereof is disposed substantially entirely below the ceiling insuch buildings and positioned so as to be freely exposed to heatcurrents traveling beneath the ceiling in all directions; and each ofsaid triggering means including means for varying its response to heatin accordance with the flow direction thereof, comprising a shieldmember for blocking heat current traveling in a predetermined directionwhile permitting free passage of current traveling in a differentdirection.

2. The improvement in fire protection systems recited in claim 1,wherein said shield member generally encircles said triggering meanslaterally and has an opening therein by which the shield may be placedabout said triggering means.

3. The improvement in fire protection systems recited in claim 2,wherein said shield member comprises a generally tubular element havingat least one open end.

4. The improvement in fire protection systems recited in claim 3,wherein said shield member element has both of its ends open.

5. The improvement in fire protection systems recited in claim 3,wherein said shield member element is smaller diametrally than saidsprinkler head means and is telescoped over said triggering means only.

6. The improvement in fire protection systems recited in claim 5,wherein said triggering means includes laterally extending arm portionsand said tubular element has an opening in its lateral wall forreceiving said arm portions.

7. A method by which the selectivity of automatic systems of the typehaving sprinkler heads with heatresponsive triggering means may besignificantly increased, comprising the steps of mounting said heads ina room with their triggering means positioned beneath the ceiling of theroom and freely exposed to heat currents traveling beneath the ceilingin all directions; shelding said triggering means laterally fromhorizontally-moving heat currents while at the same time exposing suchmeans to vertically-moving heat currents, such that heat currentsbillowing horizontally beneath said ceiling from a relatively distantfire will not actuate said triggering means whereas heat currents risingvertically toward such ceiling from a relatively close fire will actuatesuch means.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said shielding step is accomplished bydiverting said horizontally-moving heat currents around said triggeringmeans.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1951 Martin 169-37 7/1965Campbell et 'al. 16940 X US Cl. X.R. 169-42

